Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Assemblyman
Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) is urging members of the New York City Council
to vote down a bill that would allow individuals to file claims of
“profiling” against the police in state court. The bill, which looms
before the council, would eliminate the effectiveness of the New York
Police Department's stop-and-frisk tactic and result in increased crime
and potential terrorism.

“We’ve
had a remarkable, measurable downturn in crime,” said Assemblyman
Hikind. “Stop-and-frisk is not a civil rights issue—it’s a proactive
tactic used by police officers of all races to deter crime and save
lives in high-crime neighborhoods. Do we want police officers who are
assessing a potential danger to others to now factor in the fear of
being sued because they frisked someone they considered dangerous?
Officers need to think quickly and act quickly. It’s enough that they
risk their lives in the performance of their duties—if we place
obstacles in their way, then law-abiding residents will pay the ultimate
price: Crime will increase and lives will be lost, all in the name of
political correctness.”

In
a letter to members of the City Council, Hikind urged the prevention of
“a chilling effect” where cops become more concerned with keeping their
jobs than doing their duties. “Of course there are individual police
officers—like politicians and business people—who abuse their powers,”
he said. “When they are caught, they are disciplined or dismissed. But
we can’t neutralize the ability to enforce the law and protect people
because of the actions of a few bad apples.” Hikind asked the Council
not to turn back the clock on crime prevention that Commissioner Raymond
Kelly has put in place.

“And
what of potential terrorists? This bill will certainly restrict
law-enforcement’s intelligence efforts,” cautioned the Assemblyman, who
explained that law-abiding citizens do not fear legitimate police work.
“Citizens prefer the inconvenience of extra security at airports and
public places to the potential tragedy of bombs and guns. We have seen
firsthand the results of diligence in decreased crime. And, sadly, we
bear witness to the tragedy of being unprepared when there are those who
are determined to hurt us. The job of government is to protect its
citizens. I urge the esteemed members of the City Council to put safety
first. Your decisions on this issue may be the difference between life
and death for innocent victims of crimes that can be prevented.”